The University of Rhode Island men’s hockey team faced off against University of Delaware in their second two-game series of conference play over the weekend, sweeping them 2-0.
In Friday night’s game, UD started out the first period slightly stronger, outshooting URI 9-7. The level playing field resulted in some hostilities as there were a total of 15 total penalties between the two teams The teams went scoreless into the second period.
It wasn’t until third-year forward Corey Szabo scored in the 13th minute of the second period that URI gained their momentum.
“My first reaction was to just get to the net, I was hoping that [Chase Gardioso] ending up tipping off Cam Cyr’s skate and it came right out to me,” Szabo said.
URI Head Coach Joe Augustine was ultimately impressed with his team’s improvements from the last time they played.
“We just played overall a lot better,” Augustine said. “Last weekend we were just kind of all over the place and we just worked on things, just [trying to] keep it simple and work hard.”
URI was able to close out the match 1-0 in their first game of the two-game series thanks to Szabo’s lone goal.
“This was probably one of the best games I’ve seen him play since he got here,” Augustine said. “Skating is his strength and when he’s skating he makes things happen.”
Saturday night’s game started similarly to the first, as Delaware started the first four minutes of the game with five shots on net. UD earned a penalty shot early in the first period that was saved by fourth-year goalie Callum Burgess.
Late in the first period URI’s Shane Mulhern was trapped in the corner when third-year forward Jake MacKinnon came down the ice all by himself on the right side. With an accurate pass from Mulhern, MacKinnon scored a one-timer to put URI on the board, making it 1-0.
Early in the second period, URI experienced a three on two as third-year Ethan Cordero looked for help as first-year Cam Cyr snuck in the left side behind the defense to score with 14 minutes left to put the Rams up 2-0. Two minutes later and 11 seconds into a power play for the Rams, first-year forward Aidan Darlington stole the puck on a whiffed pass by UD, putting up a shot in the top right corner to make it 3-0 for URI.
As tension rose for Delaware, the physicality on the ice was noticed more by refs for an increase in penalty minutes for UD, as there were three roughing calls called within the first eight minutes of the second period. With two minutes left to play in the second period, Tanner Mahoney scored the Blue Hens first goal, making it a 3-1 game after two periods.
UD started off the third period with a goal by Ryan Rodrigues in the first two minutes. Three minutes later Szabo took a shot on net only to be deflected right to the stick of fourth year Jack Drohen who put one in the back of the net to put the Rams up 4-2 with 15 minutes left of the third period. Shortly after, fourth-year Kevin Kanaczet put one in the net for URI’s final goal putting them up 5-2.
“Off the ice we’re still working in the weight room, we’re not very happy with that but we still have a long long way to go,” Augustine said.
Up next, the Rams will continue their season, hitting the road for their next two-game series against Pittsburgh University this Friday at 6:20 p.m. and Saturday at 2:20 p.m.